Each day in November—leading up to the winter meetings—Sporting News will analyze the offseason to-do list of a major league team. Today: the Miami Marlins.

It’s already been an offseason of shock and betrayal for the Miami Marlins, the team having sold off every last piece of the “rebuilding” project they sold to fans last winter.

The Marlins will be one of the cheapest teams next season based on the salary dump they’ve already orchestrated, but if they plan on fielding even a slightly competitive team, there is work to be done.

Offseason agenda

This is sort of a futile effort, trying to predict what the Marlins should do. It appears they’ve already relegated themselves to being bad in 2013, so none of the suggested additions would even happen.

However…

Making a move with Giancarlo Stanton would be a wise. His stock might never be higher than it is this offseason—he is cheap, controllable and productive—and the Marlins could get back a major package if they trade him. We are talking the kind of deal the Texas Rangers received for Mark Teixeira. Stanton is that kind of impact player and enough teams will be interested in him for the Marlins to start a serious bidding war.

Moving Stanton would go a long way in selling what little fan base the Marlins have left on the idea of a real rebuilding project.

Outside of that, the Marlins need reliable pitching. They dealt Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle in the trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, and word is they are open to trading Ricky Nolasco and possibly Yunel Escobar, the one established major leaguer they received in return from the Blue Jays.

It’s obvious at this point the Marlins won’t spend to get arms, so again, trading Stanton seems like the logical decision in order to receive such front-line arms.

Possible departures

Besides Stanton, Nolasco and Escobar, the Marlins will listen on Logan Morrison, and guys like Carlos Lee and Carlos Zambrano are likely out the door.

Early 2013 outlook

It’s bad. The Marlins won’t compete in the National League East, and considering the players they have signed to guaranteed contracts at this point, 100 losses is a realistic possibility.

Coming up

On Monday, Stan McNeal explores how the Chicago White Sox can upend the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central a season after fading down the stretch.